Digital Marketing Consultant, Social Media Strategy and Management, Video Production in San Diego, CA

Establishing a full-circle social media presence is so important in today’s digital age. One of the key elements in achieving this goal is to incorporate social media widgets and sharing tools directly onto your website. Your website should be the hub of your online presence with your social media profiles acting as branches extending from this central location.

Image from: Social Media Vision

Why add a Twitter feed to your website?

First, you get more bang for your social media buck. Website visitors will see what your most recent tweets are about and then, in turn, will follow you on Twitter simply by clicking on the widget – this is a simple way to gain followers. Second, the Twitter feed will keep your website content fresh even if you haven’t updated it recently. Chances are that you’ve Tweeted more recently than you’ve updated your website, so this tactic will keep your website visitors up-to-date with your social media activity all in one place. Finally, adding a Twitter feed to your website shows that you are up with the times. When a current or perspective client is visiting your website, they will be confident that you are “with it” and utilizing tools to make it easier to interact with your company or brand.

To generate the code to embed a Twitter feed on your website, follow these simple steps:

As you may (or may not) know, Yelp has something called “Filtered Reviews.” If you’ve ever written a review for a business and then noticed that it didn’t get posted to their page, it’s considered a filtered review. If you aren’t a trusted reviewer then your review will not be readily visible to other Yelp users. Kind of disappointing isn’t it?

1. Reviews that reflect perfectly legitimate experiences are sometimes filtered out by the review filter’s algorithmic processes. We agree this can be frustrating, but it’s the high cost we accept to avoid being a lassez-faire review site that people stop using. Everyone loses when that happens

2. Reviews are never “deleted” by the review filter; they are always shown on users’ profile pages. The review filter simply syndicates established users’ reviews from their user pages onto business pages. This automated process sometimes creates the perception that reviews are being deleted and re-added over time; what’s actually happening is users are becoming more-or-less established over time.

3. The best word of mouth is organic and unsolicited. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, Yelp discourages business owners from asking people to write reviews about their businesses. It’s tough for an algorithm to tell the difference between a business owner aggressively putting a laptop in front of a client and saying, “Give me 5 stars!” and that same business owner flipping the laptop around and manufacturing a fake 5-star review about themselves.

4. We’re purposely not elaborate about all the variables that go into defining an “established” user, because it’s a Catch-22: the more descriptive we are about what makes an established user, the less effective our filter is at fighting shills and malicious content.

5. Both positive and negative reviews can be affected. This is to protect Car Mechanic A from Car Mechanic B’s writing of malicious 1-star reviews about his competitor. It also protects someone with a toothache from being lured into the wrong dentist’s office based on 25 fake 5-star reviews he wrote himself.

Tips to Become an Established Yelp Reviewer

There are a few things you can do to enhance your Yelp credibility and hopefully have your reviews become visible. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the more you use Yelp and interact with other users, the more likely your reviews will be trusted and in turn posted. Start with these simple solutions:

If you’re a business owner who is discouraged by the amount of filtered reviews that don’t show up on your business page, you aren’t alone. It’s important to remember that the quality of those reviewing your business is sometimes more important than the review itself. Having more reviews can help your Yelp ranking so you can stand out from the competition. There are also a few ways you can enhance Yelp visibility for your business:

Claim your business profile (it’s free)

Address any negative reviews in a positive way

Interact with those who review your business

Offer a Yelp Deal

If you need help managing your Yelp account or other Social Media profiles, please contact me today for a complimentary consultation.

July 27th – Join the Padres and Guinness World Records for the annual Dog Days of Summer at PETCO Park as they try to certify a record for the most dogs at a professional sporting event. The application period is now closed, but for those who will be attending with their pooch, PETCO provided complimentary tickets to the Padres Vs. Diamondbacks 7:05 pm game which will feature a doggie parade and many vendors. It’s sure to be a barking good time!

July 31st – The 3rd annual Doggie Festival is the largest adoption focused festival in Southern California. All friendly dogs are welcome (on-leash) to bring their owners and participate in the free fun to include entertainment, good eats, valuable pet information, products, services, speakers, music, special guests and more. The event will be held at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Park from 9 am to 4 pm. To learn more visit: http://www.doggiestreetfestival.org/.

August 27th – The American Cancer Society Bark For LifeTM is a noncompetitive walk event for dogs and their owners to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s fight against cancer. I LOVE this event and cause! By supporting Bark For Life, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. So bring your best canine friend and join us for a fun-filled day starting with a walk, and then continuing with demonstrations, contests, and games. For more information visit: www.relayforlife.org/barksandiegoca

And don’t forget…if you’re thinking of adding a furry family member to your home, visit one of the many San Diego dog adoption organizations:

Social media is a wonderful tool for connecting with friends, sharing news and promoting businesses. Social media has also proven to be a successful tool for online fundraising. I recently read a post from Socialbrite about the success of the Trail of Tails Pet Walk and Festival, who raised $41,000 for the Jacksonville, Fla., Humane Society using social media tools. As both a dog enthusiast and a social media professional, I am truly inspired by their success.

The San Diego “Barking Beach Bash” Walk for Animals is coming up on May 7th; I participated last year and had a blast! This year I decided to form my own team, Media Melanie Mutts. Our team’s goal is to raiseAT LEAST $1,000 in donations. With the right mix of social media and in-person fundraising, I’m confident that we can achieve this task. The next 51 days will consist of using Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and other social sites to gain the support of other animal advocates who can spare a few dollars to help a dedicated team of genuine animal lovers.

A big “thank you” is already in order to my teammate and co-captain, Fantastically Faith, who always encourages me to make my dreams a reality. Media Melanie Mutts would like to thankPoint Loma Pet Pantryfor their generous donation. If you’d like to support our team, please click here.

Our furry friends provide us with companionship and unconditional love, therefore reducing our stress levels. My goal is to “Pay it Forward” to adoptable dogs by finding them loving, forever homes so I can reduce the stress in their lives. I’m about to organize a small dog adoption event in San Diego (thanks to Point Loma Pet Pantry) and I hope to roll-out bigger adoption events in 2011 and 2012 with the help of Brigitte Taylor Events and Pretties with Pitties.

I’m also starting to post adoptable dogs in my Media Melanie Mutts Facebook album. If you or someone you know is considering dog adoption in San Diego, please let me know what you’re looking for – I make an excellent dog-owner matchmaker.

As I continue to see success as a social media consultant, I hope to incorporate more dog-related businesses and organizations into my client mix. Please contact me if you need professional assistance with web marketing, video production or social media profile set-up/management.

If you have a successful social media fundraising campaign that you’d like to share (dog-related or not), please leave a comment! Sharing is caring.

I’m not proud to be an avid reality TV viewer, but it’s a guilty pleasure of mine and I’ve come to accept it. The latest episode of Kourtney and Kim Take New Yorkreally upset me. Kim Kardashian actually had the nerve to cry and complain over her recent cover shoot for W Magazine. Completely breaking-down on camera over the amount of nudity depicted, Kim mentioned something about only being known for being naked.

Isn’t that how she got famous in the first place? Did she already forget about the whole sex tape thing? And then pose in Playboy? I just don’t understand. What is she complaining about anyway? I’m sure the payout isn’t so bad. I’m not about to hand her a tissue.

Photo Source: Us Weekly, Credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Us Weekly reports that a rep. from W stated: “In keeping in line with the theme of W Magazine‘s November Art Issue, Kim Kardashian’s cover was conceived as an artistic collaboration with well-known artist Barbara Kruger, and was a meditation on the influence that reality TV has on contemporary culture.”

Bottom Line: She must have known what she was getting into when she took her clothes off and allowed herself to be painted in Silver.

The past few years have given way to exceptional premium television programming, creating fierce competition between networks. From HBO’s early success with The Sopranos to Showtime’s hit show Weeds, premium networks are exceeding the expectations of viewers by utilizing well-known writers and actors and consistently delivering quality new programs.

Fortunately for them, this trend makes it much easier for cable subscribers to rationalize the extra monthly add-on to their bill in this wavering economy. I’m guilty of cutting back in other areas but unable to give up my premium TV channels. TV is clearly a huge priority in my life; I like to consider it “professional development” for my TV and film production career. Great rationalization!

At the 2011 Golden Globes, HBO easily beat Showtime in nominations and awards. Showtime wasn’t far behind with nominations for United States of Tara, Dexter, Nurse Jackie and The Big C. But HBO won ‘Best Television Series – Drama’ for Boardwalk Empire, claiming victory over Showtime’s Dexter. Boardwalk also earned ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama’ for Steve Buscemi, again beating Dexter‘s Michael C. Hall. Showtime came through with a win for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical’ for Laura Linney’s role in The Big C (one of my favorites). Congratulations, Laura!

Shamelesswith William H. Macy – This new series is CRAZY and entertaining from start to finish. I was a fan in the first 5 minutes of the pilot. “Shameless” is one of my favorite new TV shows (tied with Ancient Aliens on The History Channel). Hats off to William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum whose fiery characters keep the plot rolling. I’m not normally a Macy fan ,but his extreme alcoholism and insane antics make for an endearing train wreck.

Weeds with Mary-Louise Parker – This show has come a long way since suburban Agrestic in season 1. No longer the simple pot-dealing mom, Nancy Botwin has had more ups-and-downs than most soap opera characters. Even with it’s unrealistic plot lines and occasionally lackluster episodes, Weeds still has a hold on my heart. It helps that Hunter Parrish is easy on the eyes. Season 7 will be back in 2011 and I can’t wait!

(Hunter Parrish)

Dexter with Michael C. Hall – While many fans were disappointed with the season 5 finale, I enjoyed the season as a whole and was delighted to see Julia Stiles join the cast. Sidenote: I don’t think she had anything to do with breaking-up the marriage of Hall and his wife/on-screen sister Jennifer Carpenter. My question is: Will season 6 be the end for vigilante serial killer Dexter Morgan? I hope not.

United States of Tara with Toni Collette – This Emmy award-winning show Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg sheds a hilarious light on mental illness. Collette’s character Tara Gregson lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder). WOW. Props to Collette for playing different roles throughout each episode – she is amazing. I also adore her on-screen husband Max Gregson (played by John Corbett), he’s easy on the eyes in rugged teddy bear kind of way. Apparently I value good looking men on my shows.

(John Corbett, image from Showtime)

The Big C with Laura Linney – Who knew that cancer could be so funny? Linney has a knack for turning the malignant into the laughable. Her character Cathy Jamison is a complete bitch who you can’t help but love. The first season was bittersweet but ballsy with a lot of “Did she really just do that?” kind of moments. Gabourey Sidibe and Oliver Platt round out the exceptional cast. Catch up with this one on-demand before the next season!

Showtime isn’t perfect though; the latest season of Californication is lackluster and new series Episodes with Matt Leblanc didn’t make the cut on my DVR. Friends constantly remind me that I’m missing out on HBO favorites like Big Love, True Blood and Entourage, but for some reason I prefer the dysfunctional/drug-ridden/serial killer/mentally ill/diseased plots that Showtime does so well (don’t judge).

With 5 favorite shows on Showtime and only 1 on HBO, (Boardwalk Empire,) I choose Showtime. Where do you stand?

I don’t recall ever attending a movie in a theater with an intermission, but I do remember thinking that it would be a great idea. As films get longer and drinks get bigger, I wonder why movie theaters don’t consider implementing short intermissions like Drive-in movies used to do between movies.

Perhaps an intermission would spike refreshment stand revenue to help compensate for dropping box-office sales. It could also leave viewers more comfortable by allowing for a restroom break. Ten minutes is ample time to return text messages, grab a snack, use the restroom and quickly ask your movie date if they like the movie.

I love social media and have made it a big part of my life by starting my business, Media Melanie. I also love dogs! These are my two rescues, Paco and Maya:

Paco is almost 2 years old and was rescued from Second Chance Dog Rescue of San Diego; he was a Mexican street dog from Tijuana. Maya is about 4 years old and was adopted from the San Diego Humane Society; I have no idea how she ended up there, but I’m glad she ended up with me. They are both a huge part of my life and I wish I could adopt (a lot) more, but I don’t have the ability to do so at the moment. Henceforth:

The past few weeks I’ve casually posted links to adoptable dogs on my Facebook and Twitter profiles. My heart fluttered today when I noticed that a Shiba Inu I had grown fond of and longed to adopt myself finally found a home. It may or may not have had anything to do with my social media efforts, but either way I’m happy and overjoyed when adorable dogs like him are adopted. Since I can’t adopt them myself, I’m promising to be a voice for them by promoting them on Facebook and Twitter as often as I can, in hopes that I can help them find a good home. Here are links to successful social media/adoption campaigns:

What Can You Do?

Please follow me on Twitter@mediamelanie, “Like” me on Facebook and subscribe to my blog on WordPress. When you notice that I’m posting about a dog who needs a home, please RT (retweet) the post or share it with your friends. It’s that simple. A little bit of social media love goes a long way. Sharing is caring!

Together they have allowed for tens of thousands of dogs (and cats) to be saved from high rate kill shelters. Awesome. I wish I had the resources to do what they do. BUT…

With my love of social media and dogs as well as my experience in TV production, I’m ultimately dreaming of getting my own TV show where I go down to the streets of Tijuana, rescue dogs and find them homes. How amazing would that be? All I need is a little bit of support:

Resources to provide a safe and loving location to house the dogs until I find them homes

A strategic partnership with an existing dog rescue, foster program or organization (think Cesar Millan)

An investor to fund a pilot episode

Some really awesome volunteers and animal enthusiasts

Please spread the word to help my dream come true and also to make a difference in the lives of dogs. After all, dogs don’t have a voice of their own. Feel free to add to the idea and comment on this blog, I’d love to hear what you think.

Media Melanie is a freelance Media & Marketing Specialist based out of San Diego, CA. Areas of expertise include:

TV & Film Production

Media Buying

Social Media

Ad Sales

Copywriting

Email Blasts

Promotions

Event Planning

Media Melanie has years of experience in a variety of professional settings that include an ad agency, a corporate marketing office and on-set at multiple TV and video shoots including TLC’s “What Not to Wear.” Media Melanie is also a published freelance writer who contributed to multiple issues of Modern Fix Magazine.

The most recent educational milestone for Media Melanie was in 2008 when she received a “Media Marketing Specialist” certificate from San Diego State University’s College of Extended Studies; she also earned a BA in Communications (cum laude) in 2002.

For a full professional profile please visit Linked In and also keep up with Media Melanie updates on Facebook and Twitter!

Size does matter. These days the size of your friend list on Facebook, followers on Twitter and network on LinkedIn can make you or break your role or position in any field or social circle. Is your cable package big enough? Do you have the premium stations to watch that hyped-up series on HBO like the rest of your friends? Those with basic cable and local stations are dwindling, especially with the downfall of analog TV to full digital and DVR. What’s the average amount of video content you consume in a month between Hulu, YouTube, NetFlix, OnDemand or even ads at the gas pump? Good luck measuring. Unless you are one of the few and proud who has sworn off social media, refused to get a cell phone or still protest an email address – you know exactly what I mean. Personal media consumption is growing at an uncontrollable rate.

If the size of the proverbial boat matters, then so shouldn’t the “motion in the ocean.” Society is increasingly driven by and motivated towards media outlets. If you’re pushing out content then make sure it’s relevent and worthwhile to those your push it to. Nobody wants to be inundated with more junk in their online trunk. When offering a product or service try to consider how your next status update will be viewed by your customers or clients. Conversely, take in quality content to increase your knowledge base. So the next time you post a status update or tweet a thought please try to make it matter – the Internet seems infinite but that doesn’t mean it needs more clutter; make it a “resource” not a “regress.”